Like most people, I have a scale in my bathroom. And like most people, I’ve mastered the art of avoiding it. “I don’t have time,” I tell myself, or “The scale’s probably broken anyway.” Anything to delay that moment of truth.

But recently, I had a legitimate excuse—the batteries in the scale were dead. 

Hallelujah! No batteries, no weigh-ins! Sure, I had extras in the closet, but why bother? That defunct scale sitting on my bathroom floor was perfectly fine by me.

Then, as I walked by it, I started wondering why I care so much about the number it shows. Why do we give so much power to a piece of metal? Maybe it’s because I grew up in the ’60s, when a model named Twiggy was the epitome of beauty. Don’t know who Twiggy was? Just picture her name—a stick. That was the standard, and like every other girl, I wanted to be her.

The scale became the ultimate judge of whether I was “worthy” or not. Spoiler: I never felt worthy enough.

But why do we do this to ourselves? To our children? Why do we, as adults, still let a number define us? Why can’t I break that cycle?

So, I decided to take back control. I put new batteries in the scale and stepped on it. Yep, I’d gained weight. But instead of spiraling, I stopped myself. So what?

It wasn’t the end of the world. I’m healthy. I’m happy. I’m worthy. The scale no longer had the power I used to give it.

Does the scale still hold power over you? There are so many other ways to measure health and happiness. Don’t let a number tell you how to feel about yourself.

It’s time to climb that mountain—no scale required.

-Peni